Phoenix, AZ vs Tucson, AZ
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | PhoenixPhoenix, AZ | TucsonTucson, AZ | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Moderate | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2.7 people per household, Phoenix, AZ and Tucson, AZ differ notably in household size, with Phoenix 16% larger. In 2023 Census figures, Phoenix’s median household income of $77,041 places it in the 55th percentile, while Tucson’s $54,546 sits in the 20th percentile, a 41% difference. Per-capita income in Phoenix is $40,309 (58th percentile) compared to Tucson’s $31,152 (25th percentile), 29% higher. The comfortable income for a single person requires $74,197 in Phoenix (70th percentile) versus $47,055 in Tucson (40th percentile), and for a family of four, $109,069 in Phoenix compared to $69,171 in Tucson, each 58% higher.
Job growth over the past year was +2.1% in Phoenix (78th percentile) and -0.1% in Tucson (19th percentile), a 2.2-point gap. Median rent in Phoenix is $1,458 (68th percentile), 35% higher than Tucson’s $1,079 (39th percentile). The cost of living index of 129 in Phoenix (67th percentile) is 43% higher than Tucson’s 90 (39th percentile). Violent crime per 100,000 people in Phoenix is 694 (93rd percentile), 95% higher than Tucson’s 355 (71st percentile), while property crime rates are nearly identical at 2,036 and 2,042 per 100,000.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12967th pctl | 9039th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Phoenix, AZ 129; Tucson, AZ 90; Phoenix is 43% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $381,90069th pctl | $242,20041st pctl | Median home value: Phoenix, AZ $381,900; Tucson, AZ $242,200; Phoenix is 58% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,45868th pctl | $1,07939th pctl | Median rent: Phoenix, AZ $1,458; Tucson, AZ $1,079; Phoenix is 35% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $77,04155th pctl | $54,54620th pctl | Median household income: Phoenix, AZ $77,041; Tucson, AZ $54,546; Phoenix is 41% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $74,19770th pctl | $47,05540th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Phoenix, AZ $74,197; Tucson, AZ $47,055; Phoenix is 58% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $109,06970th pctl | $69,17140th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Phoenix, AZ $109,069; Tucson, AZ $69,171; Phoenix is 58% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tucson needs about
$52,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 129 vs 90). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%28th pctl | 3.7%52nd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.1%78th pctl | -0.1%19th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Phoenix, AZ +2.1%; Tucson, AZ -0.1%; Phoenix is 2.2 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $40,30958th pctl | $31,15225th pctl | Per-capita income: Phoenix, AZ $40,309; Tucson, AZ $31,152; Phoenix is 29% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.3%63rd pctl | 18.8%79th pctl | Poverty rate: Phoenix, AZ 14.3%; Tucson, AZ 18.8%; Tucson is 4.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.7 min65th pctl | 22.2 min41st pctl | Average commute: Phoenix, AZ 25.7 min; Tucson, AZ 22.2 min; Phoenix is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 16.9%76th pctl | 12.4%60th pctl | Work from home: Phoenix, AZ 16.9%; Tucson, AZ 12.4%; Phoenix is 4.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Phoenix, AZ A+; Tucson, AZ B+; Phoenix is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 69493rd pctl | 35572nd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Phoenix, AZ 694; Tucson, AZ 355; Phoenix is 95% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,03678th pctl | 2,04278th pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Air quality: Phoenix, AZ B-; Tucson, AZ A-; Tucson is graded higher. |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Arizona, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Arizona →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 9 mi9th pctl | 7 mi7th pctl | Nearest large city: Phoenix, AZ 9 mi; Tucson, AZ 7 mi; Phoenix is 16% higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Phoenix, AZ C+; Tucson, AZ D-; Phoenix is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 113 mi12th pctl | 53 mi4th pctl | Distance to international border: Phoenix, AZ 113 mi; Tucson, AZ 53 mi; Phoenix is 2.1 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 163 mi38th pctl | 98 mi28th pctl | Distance to coastline: Phoenix, AZ 163 mi; Tucson, AZ 98 mi; Phoenix is 66% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,624,832100th pctl | 543,34899th pctl | Population: Phoenix, AZ 1,624,832; Tucson, AZ 543,348; Phoenix is 3.0 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,13480th pctl | 2,23766th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Phoenix, AZ 3,134; Tucson, AZ 2,237; Phoenix is 40% higher. |
| Median age | 34.824th pctl | 34.623rd pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3%50th pctl | 30.2%45th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Phoenix, AZ 32.3%; Tucson, AZ 30.2%; Phoenix is 2.1 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.773rd pctl | 2.331st pctl | Average household size: Phoenix, AZ 2.7; Tucson, AZ 2.3; Phoenix is 16% larger. |
More about Phoenix's residents · Tucson's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Phoenix and Tucson
- Median rent: $1,458 in Phoenix, $1,079 in Tucson
- Median home value: $381,900 in Phoenix, $242,200 in Tucson
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 129 in Phoenix, 90 in Tucson
- Median household income: $77,041 in Phoenix, $54,546 in Tucson
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $109,069 in Phoenix, $69,171 in Tucson
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Phoenix, 3.7% in Tucson
- Average commute: 25.7 min in Phoenix, 22.2 min in Tucson
- Violent crime per 100k: 694 in Phoenix, 355 in Tucson
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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